Harlequins’ new era under Paul Gustard is off to a flying start after 26 points and commanding performance from Marcus Smith were enough to put Sale to the sword. Max Crumpton’s last-gasp try, Harlequins’ sixth, chalked up the hosts’ half-century but that they only conceded three second-half points says everything about their effort and attitude, so often missing in a desperate campaign last season.
Sale, meanwhile, were dealt an early blow with the departure of the England flanker Tom Curry with a horrible-looking head injury and were ultimately unable to overcome it. Curry was well enough to watch the second half but it was a worrying moment when he went off on a stretcher, wearing a neck brace and receiving oxygen.
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“He got a knock to the head but nothing serious there. If you’re out, and I think he was momentarily out, that’s what they have to go through,” said the Sale director of rugby, Steve Diamond.
There can be little doubting Sale missed Curry, but perhaps the most significant absentee was the South African scrum-half Faf de Klerk. The visitors certainly had their moments and a bit more control from half-back might have made all the difference. “We’re a little bit embarrassed of ourselves,” added Diamond. “ We didn’t get any pride, let alone a bonus point, so I’m a bit pissed off with it.”
Curry left the field after just four minutes after he was tended to by medics from both sides having landing awkwardly following an aerial collision with the Harlequins full-back, Aaron Morris. The immediate reaction of nearby Harlequins players demonstrated their obvious concern for the 19-year-old who started all three of England’s summer Tests in South Africa so Diamond’s positive update will be welcomed by Eddie Jones.
Inevitably, there were aspects to Quins’ often frenetic performance that Gustard was not happy with but it is hard not to see this as the ideal start to life as a Premiership No 1, having received a good-luck message from his former boss earlier in the week. Mike Brown on the left wing. “The humbling thing is we know we can get better. It’s always frustrating to concede trie“It’s great, I left the RFU on good terms and Eddie understands why I left. He’s a brilliant resource for every club coach to use,” said Gustard, who like Jones deployed the “outstanding” Mike Brown on the left wing. “I’m a defence coach but it’s a fantastic start. If you’d given us that start, I’d have a taken it.”
AJ MacGinty kicked Sale level at 3-3 after a seven-minute stoppage for Curry’s injury but Harlequins grabbed the first try through their debutant centre Ben Tapuai wriggling his way past three defenders. Quins had also lost Dino Lamb to a concerning injury by that stage. The attrition rate continues apace.
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If Gustard was satisfied up until that point, he will have been furious at Sale’s first try. Sam James made ground through the middle and with the lock James Phillips latching on, they blasted up towards the Harlequins line before MacGinty stepped over.
Then came a try for Marland Yarde on his first return here following his acrimonious departure last year. Dashing down the left after Sale had pounced on Chris Robshaw’s mistake, he fed the ball inside to Will Cliff, ran inside his scrum-half, got the ball back and raced clear.
Harlequins hit back through Nathan Earle, the summer signing from Saracens finishing off a break from Morris, and while MacGinty added a penalty, Tapuai produced another slippery finish to send Harlequins in 24-20 ahead. Two more penalties from the 19-year-old Smith put the squeeze on Sale.
While MacGinty pulled Sale back to within seven points, a scrappy try from the impressive Joe Marchant, who limped off towards the end, gave Quins the required breathing space. Smith added the try his authoritative display deserved under the posts before Crumpton added insult to injury for the Sharks.